The Reading SectionWeek 3

TOEFL WorkshopsEl Oro

Review Homework Review note taking Review the main idea of the passage You will understand the format of the TOEFL

Reading Exam Review test taking strategies Practice TIMED TOEFL Reading examples

Objectives

Respect◦ Turn off your cellphones (if it is an emergency,

please tell Katie and Andrea BEFORE class starts)◦ Come prepared and on time◦ If you are late, just sit quietly and start taking

notes Ask questions

◦ We do not know when to stop if you do not ask questions

No cheating/copying◦ This is disrespectful to us.

RULES OF THE CLASSROOM

If you do not do your homework, you do not sign in

If you do not sign in THREE TIMES you will be asked to stop coming as we cannot help you and it is disrespectful

If there is an issue with these rules, see us

Consequences

To help you◦ Numerous studies show that homework increases a

persons understanding of the subject◦ We are able to review it and build on you current

skills◦ We only have these few hours to help you, so

homework allows you to improve your skills on your own

◦ To help guide our lessons For every hour you spend on homework, we spend

a half hour and we have over 70 students!!! So, we are creating more work for ourselves to help you!!!

Why do we give homework?

Context Clues◦ Ignominy:

Dishonor: “or dishonor”◦ Unfathomable

Deep or profound: “stop and think”◦ Iridescent

Colorful: When light hits glass, it creates a rainbow◦ Constable

Policeman: “police officers were called”◦ Burnished

Polished: Rubbing hard◦ Careened

Zigzagged: shows accident

Warm-Up

Top 3 things we noticed with writing Plagiarism: “The practice of taking someone

else's work or ideas and passing them off as one's own” (dictionary.com).◦ How to fix it? Either use quotes (like above) or put

it in your OWN words. Commas with an introduction: Place a comma

when using introductory phrases (phrase that is dependent/cannot stand on it’s own)◦ Even though Andrea is sick, she still came to school

today.

A Quick Word about Writing

What are we looking for◦ Introduction: Broad statement, some detail

(historical, personal, analytical), thesis statement

◦ Paragraphs: Your reason/argument, support for this argument

◦ Conclusion: Restating the above in different words, a statement to make the reader think further

Basic Essay Structure

Please take out your homework, what were some MAIN POINTS of the article?

Note Taking:◦ Makes you an ACTIVE reader/listener

Studies show when you take notes while reading or listening you attention is held, therefore getting better grades

◦ Helps organize your thoughts Part of the TOEFL is integrated: listening, reading,

writing. Being an active note taker will help you write the paper and organize your thoughts

Homework and Notes!!!

3-4 passages, each approximately 700 words long

Each passage is followed by about 12-14 questions

You will have 60-100 minutes to complete the entire section

= about 20 minutes per passage

TOEFL Reading Format

Actively read the passage◦ Look for the purpose, structure, and main idea

(THESIS STATEMENT) Attack the questions

◦ Make sure you understand the question◦ The answer is in the passage!◦ Not all questions are created equal- do all the

questions you find the easiest FIRST◦ Questions are arranged in a rough chronological

order Process of Elimination

Cracking the Reading Section

Information not mentioned: answer makes common sense, but a correct answer is FOUND IN THE PASSAGE.

Extreme wording: all, always, impossible, must, never, none- correct answers usually do not use this wording

Right answer, wrong question: Information from the passage, but doesn’t relate to the question

Process of Elimination: Wrong answer categories

Verbatim: Repeats part of the passage word for word… but in the wrong context

Beyond the Information: Gives more information than the passage provides◦ Ex. “Some species of chimpanzees make tools out

of branches” The answer choice: “Many animals can make tools”

Let’s read the text and answer some questions…

Marcy and her family

A◦ Why? Information not mentioned

Although B or C might make sense, it is NOT found in the passage. The passage is about technology, not guns. D doesn’t work because the Mom is explaining the DANGER.

Correct answer…

B Why? Verbatim, beyond the information

◦ Some answers are quoted from the passage, but it is with the wrong question. The question is asking for you to BEST DESCRIBE the difference, so this means to summarize, not find supporting details.

◦ Finally, although D seems correct, but it is too general. The Mom might be strict here, but in other instances (dating, let’s say) she might not be strict

A◦ Why? Extreme wording, beyond the information

B cannot be correct because we do not know if they are ALWAYS fighting and NEVER get along

C cannot be correct because it seems like they care about Marcia’s wellbeing

D cannot be correct because like B, this is one fight and we have not seen another

With its molecules bonded so tightly, the exocuticle is very durable. There are points on the body where it does not form, since flexibility is needed around joints. This arrangement allows supple movement but provides armor-like protection.

The layer of the shell called the exocuticle is strong becausea. its molecules are closely bondedb. it is drier than the endocuticlec. its fibers are paralleld. it is water-resistant

Turn off/SILENCE your cell phones. We cannot have any interruptions during this section of the course.

You have 20 minutes to complete the given reading and to answer the questions.

If you finish early, review your answers. You should not waste any time. Do not talk to your fellow teachers.

We will do 2 reading drills and will review the questions together.

Let’s Practice!

Homework◦ Listen to a speech from…

http://www.americanrhetoric.com/top100speechesall.html

(You can read the transcript as well.) Write a short summary about the speech. (3

sentences, including the name of the speaker and speech title)

Write about how the speech made you feel and why. Write if you agree or disagree with the speaker.

Questions? Thank you!